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Crop Conditions as of August 29, 2017 (Abbreviated Report)
Hot, dry weather continued in the South and Central regions enabling harvest operations to progress at a fast pace. The warm, drier weather has reached into the North East and North West regions, advancing crop maturity and starting harvest through crop desiccation, the swathing of canola and the combining of field peas. Harvest is deemed to be 18% complete in the province, largely on advances in the South and Central regions (See Table #1). An additional 12% of crops are in the swath. Regional harvest progress is ahead of their 5 year averages in the South and Central regions but lagging in the remainder of the province. By crop, spring wheat harvest is 17% complete versus its 5 year average of 9%. Barley averages 25% combined compared to its 5 year average of 11%. Canola harvest at 7% compares to its 5 year average of 4% and field peas at 62% in the bin compares to a 5 year average of 55% completed.
Provincially, soil moisture ratings declined on the week. Surface moisture ratings fell 5 points to 51% of the province rated poor or fair while subsoil ratings fell to 46% rated poor or fair from 40% last week. This is potentially significant in the context of the upcoming decision regarding the seeding of winter cereals in the next 4-5 weeks.
Hay and Pasture condition ratings declined again this week. Pastures declined to 42% rated good or excellent from 48% last week (See Table #2). Tame hay ratings fell 5 points to 43% rated good or excellent. The continued dryness in the South and eastern portion of the Central region can be expected to negatively affect the start to forage growth next spring unless some moisture respite comes soon. Delayed spring growth usually results in reduced production.
REGIONAL ASSESSMENTS:
The 2017 Alberta Crop Report Series continues to provide summaries for the following five regions:
Region One: Southern (Strathmore, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Foremost)
- Harvest progress has advanced to 52% complete in the region, well ahead of the 5 year average of 23% harvested by the last week of August. Further16% of crops are in the swath.
- Spring wheat is 50% combined versus 5 year average of 18%; Barley at 62% harvested versus 26%; Canola at 28% harvested versus 14% and Field peas at 95% completed compared to its 5 yr average of 71%.
- Surface Soil Moisture Rating: 61% Poor; 29% Fair; 10% Good; 0% Excellent; 0% Excessive.
- Sub Soil Moisture Rating: 48% Poor; 29% Fair; 23% Good; 0% Excellent; 0% Excessive.
- Pasture Condition Rating: 67% Poor; 20% Fair; 11% Good; 2% Excellent.
Region Two: Central (Rimbey, Airdrie, Coronation, Oyen)
- Harvest progress improved to 14% in the region complete versus 5 year average of 5%. Further 16% in the swath.
- Spring wheat at 12% combined versus 5 year average of 3%; Barley at 14% harvested versus 4%; Canola at 8% combined versus 4%; Field peas at 62% completed versus 5 year average of 40%.
- Surface Soil Moisture Rating: 35% Poor; 41% Fair; 24% Good; 0% Excellent; 0% Excessive.
- Sub Soil Moisture Rating: 30% Poor; 42% Fair; 28% Good; 0% Excellent; 0% Excessive.
- Pasture Condition Rating: 50% Poor; 35% Fair; 15% Good; 0% Excellent.
Region Three: North East (Smoky Lake, Vermilion, Camrose, Provost)
- Small amount of harvest completed to date in the region with 3% of crops in the bin compared to 5 year average of 4%. Further 8% of crops have been swathed.
- Spring wheat is 1% harvested versus 5 year average of 4%; Barley at 1% combined compared to 2%; Canola at less than 1% combined versus 5 yr average of less than 1%; Field peas at 40% harvested versus 5 year average of 45%.
- Surface Soil Moisture Rating: 3% Poor; 11% Fair; 34% Good; 33% Excellent; 19% Excessive.
- Sub Soil Moisture Rating: 1% Poor; 9% Fair; 18% Good; 51% Excellent; 21% Excessive.
- Pasture Condition Rating: 3% Poor; 19% Fair; 44% Good; 34% Excellent.
Region Four: North West (Barrhead, Edmonton, Leduc, Drayton Valley, Athabasca)
- Minimal harvest in the region to date due to delayed crop development. Less than 1% harvested compared to 5 year average of 4%. Additional 2% of crops in the swath.
- Spring wheat at less than 1% harvested compared to 5 yr average of 6%; Barley at 1% combined versus 4%; Canola at 0% combined versus less than 1%; Field peas at 13% versus 5 yr average of 39% complete.
- Surface Soil Moisture Rating: 8% Poor; 13% Fair; 15% Good; 49% Excellent; 15% Excessive.
- Sub Soil Moisture Rating: 0% Poor; 19% Fair; 54% Good; 14% Excellent; 13% Excessive.
- Pasture Condition Rating: 7% Poor; 38% Fair; 36% Good; 19% Excellent.
Region Five: Peace River (Fairview, Falher, Grande Prairie, Valleyview)
- Region received 25 + mm of rain on August 24 which slowed harvest operations.
- Regional harvest progress at 7% combined with a further 10% in the swath. 5 yr average for region is 10% completed.
- Spring wheat progress at 8% combined versus 5 year average of 15%; Barley harvest at 5% combined versus 11%; Canola at 4% compared to 3%; Field peas at 21% harvested versus 5 year average of 50% combined.
- Surface Soil Moisture Rating: 4% Poor; 15% Fair; 46% Good; 31% Excellent; 4% Excessive.
- Sub Soil Moisture Rating: 5% Poor; 18% Fair; 45% Good; 28% Excellent; 4% Excessive.
- Pasture Condition Rating: 2% Poor; 23% Fair; 53% Good; 22% Excellent.
Agriculture Financial Services Corporation
James Wright, Risk Analyst
Actuarial, Analytics & Forecasting Unit
E-mail: james.wright@afsc.ca
Phone: 403-782-8336
Lacombe, Alberta
September 1, 2017
Note to Users: The contents of this document may not be used or reproduced without properly accrediting Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, Economics and Competitiveness Branch, Statistics and Data Development Section
The 2017 Alberta crop reporting series is available on the Internet at: http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/sdd4191
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